Mark 10:31 But many who are
first will be last, and the last first.
Pastor Jeff will pray at the firemen’s memorial service this afternoon because he currently serves as the Oregon Fire Department Chaplain.
WHICH OF THESE IS TRUE ABOUT PASTOR JEFF?
1) I used to serve as a hospital chaplain
2) I used to serve as a horse race chaplain
3) I used to serve as a police department chaplain
4) I used to serve as a Coast Guard Reserves chaplain
SLIDE 2
Race Track Chaplain – tell that story as a lead in to the Kentucky Derby Video.
VIDEO: Rich Strike 1
(I will give obvious cue to start)
PRAYER
EXAMPLES OF ‘From ALL OUT to ALL IN’
Gideon versus
the Midianites
Can you identify with Gideon? He would seem to be the least likely to be chosen by God to lead Israel out of their afflictions with the Midianites. The Midianites would wait till the very moment the harvest was ripe and come down out of the mountains and steal all Israel’s harvest food! It was devastating to the nation because the Midianites looted many of the livestock too so they were often hungry and living in constant fear of being invaded. It was under these circumstances where God spoke to Gideon, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor” (Judge 6:12). You have to wonder if Gideon looked over his shoulder and thought, “Who me?” I say this because later Gideon says to God, “how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house” (Judges 6:15) but God reassures Gideon, “I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man” (Judges 6:16). That’s the whole idea of God using the underdog; He receives the glory. This was the reason that Gideon’s 300, composed of inexperienced and untrained farmers and ranchers were able to overcome the thousands of skilled, trained veteran armed forces of the Midianites.
Gideon was a military “ALL OUT” about whom trained soldiers would have laughed. Yet, with God working through him, he won one of history’s most amazing battles ever. 32,000 down to 10,000 down to 300. (3 groups of 100 = 300 jars smashed, 300 trumpets sounded, 300 torches raised – the Midianites were so confused that they began to kill each other) All Out Gideon flew to the head of the line as one who became all in.
David versus Goliath
Everyone thought David was insane to fight Goliath. David was a kid, a shepherd, a musician. It must have seemed incredible to those who were watching David take on a giant of man; a seasoned warrior who was as fully equipped as they lined-up for battle that day because the Philistines had the ability to make ironworks like, iron shields, armor, and spears and Goliath the Giant had them all. The Philistine forces that observed David taking on Goliath must have thought, “It’s over…Goliath can’t lose.” Perhaps even King Saul thought that too as well as most of the Israelite forces, however, little ALL OUT David seemed to know something the others didn’t. He knew God was with him and would fight for him. David pleaded with King Saul and said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine” so “Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you” (1 Sam 17:37). When the time came, “David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head” (1 Sam 17:45-46a). God did deliver Goliath into David’s hand but He also delivered Israel out of the Philistines.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things — and the things that are not — to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God — that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." Like David, like Gideon, and like Paul.
Before we look
at him, hear what God does for those who know they are all out and those who
believe they are all in by their own merit. Luke 18:9-14 To some who were
confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus
told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple
to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up
and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you
that I am not like other men — robbers, evildoers, adulterers — or even like
this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not
even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went
home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and
he who humbles himself will be exalted."
The Apostle
Paul understood going from all out to all in (TELL HIS STORY)
The great
Apostle Paul, the mighty warrior David, the superior military commander Gideon
– all who started out at the back of the pack with the least odds of winning
ended up crossing the finish line enveloped in the power and glory of God.
Hebrews 11:32-40
And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
2 Timothy
4:7-8 I
have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous Judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but also to
all who have longed for his appearing.
Hebrews
12:1-3 Therefore, since we are
surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that
hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance
the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and
perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross,
scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not
grow weary and lose heart.
CONCLUSION
2 Kings 6:11-17
The king of Aram was furious with Israel and with the prophet Elisha. He surrounded the city of Dothan where Elisha was and was ready to take them all by force…Elisha’s servant came to him in fear when he saw they were outnumbered. When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked. "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
SCRIPTURE
ABOUT THE CONFIDENT HORSE
Job 39:19-25
19 Do you give the horse his strength or clothe his neck with a flowing mane?
Watch this battle from a better view point and the way this horse moves is sometimes the way God works in us weaving us through the world to accomplish his purpose and end up victorious for him when no one thought we could do it!
VIDEO – Rich Strike 2
THE WHITE HORSE
Revelation 19:11-16
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
SONG: “Whom Shal I Fear?” (God of
Angel Armies)
Pastor Jeff will pray at the firemen’s memorial service this afternoon because he currently serves as the Oregon Fire Department Chaplain.
WHICH OF THESE IS TRUE ABOUT PASTOR JEFF?
1) I used to serve as a hospital chaplain
2) I used to serve as a horse race chaplain
3) I used to serve as a police department chaplain
4) I used to serve as a Coast Guard Reserves chaplain
SLIDE 2
Race Track Chaplain – tell that story as a lead in to the Kentucky Derby Video.
EXAMPLES OF ‘From ALL OUT to ALL IN’
Can you identify with Gideon? He would seem to be the least likely to be chosen by God to lead Israel out of their afflictions with the Midianites. The Midianites would wait till the very moment the harvest was ripe and come down out of the mountains and steal all Israel’s harvest food! It was devastating to the nation because the Midianites looted many of the livestock too so they were often hungry and living in constant fear of being invaded. It was under these circumstances where God spoke to Gideon, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor” (Judge 6:12). You have to wonder if Gideon looked over his shoulder and thought, “Who me?” I say this because later Gideon says to God, “how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house” (Judges 6:15) but God reassures Gideon, “I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man” (Judges 6:16). That’s the whole idea of God using the underdog; He receives the glory. This was the reason that Gideon’s 300, composed of inexperienced and untrained farmers and ranchers were able to overcome the thousands of skilled, trained veteran armed forces of the Midianites.
Gideon was a military “ALL OUT” about whom trained soldiers would have laughed. Yet, with God working through him, he won one of history’s most amazing battles ever. 32,000 down to 10,000 down to 300. (3 groups of 100 = 300 jars smashed, 300 trumpets sounded, 300 torches raised – the Midianites were so confused that they began to kill each other) All Out Gideon flew to the head of the line as one who became all in.
David versus Goliath
Everyone thought David was insane to fight Goliath. David was a kid, a shepherd, a musician. It must have seemed incredible to those who were watching David take on a giant of man; a seasoned warrior who was as fully equipped as they lined-up for battle that day because the Philistines had the ability to make ironworks like, iron shields, armor, and spears and Goliath the Giant had them all. The Philistine forces that observed David taking on Goliath must have thought, “It’s over…Goliath can’t lose.” Perhaps even King Saul thought that too as well as most of the Israelite forces, however, little ALL OUT David seemed to know something the others didn’t. He knew God was with him and would fight for him. David pleaded with King Saul and said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine” so “Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you” (1 Sam 17:37). When the time came, “David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head” (1 Sam 17:45-46a). God did deliver Goliath into David’s hand but He also delivered Israel out of the Philistines.
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things — and the things that are not — to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God — that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." Like David, like Gideon, and like Paul.
And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
2 Kings 6:11-17
The king of Aram was furious with Israel and with the prophet Elisha. He surrounded the city of Dothan where Elisha was and was ready to take them all by force…Elisha’s servant came to him in fear when he saw they were outnumbered. When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked. "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Job 39:19-25
19 Do you give the horse his strength or clothe his neck with a flowing mane?
Watch this battle from a better view point and the way this horse moves is sometimes the way God works in us weaving us through the world to accomplish his purpose and end up victorious for him when no one thought we could do it!
VIDEO – Rich Strike 2
Revelation 19:11-16
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
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